Venetian blind construction for limiting lift-cord dangle



1969 J. A. ANDERLE 3,485,25

VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION FOR LIMITING LTFT-CORD DANGLE Filed Sept.20, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l am 40 A 4 45 44 44 45 4 v M 44 INVENTOR 47 4-242 4/ A 47 47 Q1 5055 AAA/05PM new g;

Dec. 23, 1969 J. A. ANDERLE VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION FOR LIMITINGLIFT-CORD DANGLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1968 INVENTOR JOSEPHA. ANDERLE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,485,285 VENETIAN BLINDCONSTRUCTION FOR LIMITING LIFT-CORD DANGLE Joseph A. Anderle, Clifton,N.J., assignor to Levolor Lorentzen, Inc., Hoboken, N.J., a corporationof New Jersey Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 687,013,

Nov. 30, 1967. This application Sept. 20, 196.8, Ser.

Int. Cl. E061) 9/30, 9/38 US. Cl. 160-163 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The bottom bar of the blind is provided with a cord retainer,which has a cord-receiving portion adjacent to the front of the bottombar. The lift cord, hanging from the cord lock, has its lower endconnected to the cordreceiving portion of the retainer. As the bottombar is raised to open the blind, the lower end of the lift cord iscarried upwardly by the bottom bar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 687,013 filed Nov. 30, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the Venetian blinds which are mostcommonly used,

a portion of the lift cord hangs down from the cord lock at the top ofthe blind and is manually pulled in and payed out to raise and lower thebottom bar and thereby raise and lower the blind. With the most usualstringing arrangement for the lift cord, the lower end of suchdown-hanging portion of the lift cord drops 1 foot for each foot thatthe bottom bar is raised. This can result in the lift cord danglingbelow the window sill, which is often objectionable.

If there be a radiator beneath the window, which is frequently the case,the lift cord can dangle behind the radiator and pick up dust. In somesituations the lift cord may become entangled with a valve of theradiator. If the blind be at a window behind a sink, the lift cord maydangle into the dishwater. If the blind be at a window behind a stove,the lift cord can dangle into cooking utensils.

To limit the lift-cord dangle, the lower end of the downhanging portionof the lift cord has, in some instances,

been wrapped around the bottom bar and tied. Then, with the mostcommonly used stringing arrangement, the end of the lift cord is carriedup 1 foot for each foot that the bottom bar is raised. However, thisarrangement hasnt worked out well in many instances.

By being wrapped around the bottom bar, the lift cord picks up dirt fromthe window sill and presents a dirty appearance when the bottom bar israised above eye level. Also, the lift cord impairs the light-excludingcapacity of the blind; it prevents the bottom bar from closing tightlyagainst the window sill and prevents the bottom slat of the blind fromclosing tightly against the bottom bar. When the bottom bar is loweredagainst the window sill, only one end of the bar contacts the sill, theother end being propped up by the lift cord. This is unsightly.

3,485,285 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 ice When the bottom bar is to belowered, the operator first swings the lift cord sidewise to unlock itand permit it to run through the cord lock; and with the arrangementsthat have been used this has caused lifting of the end of the bottom barto which the lift cord is attached. This lifting of one end of thebottom bar by the lift cord adds to the difficulty of judging themovement of the bottom bar to bring it to the desired new level.

In addition to the foregoing objections, shrinkage of the lift cord hascaused permanent inclination of the bottom bar through pulling up of theend about which the lift cord has been wrapped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The bottom bar of the blind is provided with acord retainer; and the retainer has a cord-receiving portion to whichthe lower end of the down-hanging portion of the lift cord is attached.In accordance with one feature of the invention the cord-retainer has aplurality of portions which collectively make interfitting holdingengagement with the bottom-bar structure. In accordance with otherfeatures of the invention the cord retainer is quick-attachable to thelift cord and in general is quick-attachable to the bottom bar after theblind has been installed. In accordance with another feature of theinvention the applied retainer is located entirely above the level ofthe bottom of the untilted bottom bar and entirely below the level ofthe top of the untilted bottom bar. In accordance with a further featureof the invention the cord-receiving portion of the retainer is locatedadjacent to the front of the bottom bar on the outside of the bottombar. The portion of the lift cord which hangs down from the cord look atthe top of the blind has its end connected to the cord-receiving portionof the retainer, so that the end is carried up by the bottom bar as thebottom bar is raised.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the length of thelift cord is made such that, with the bottom bar in its lowermostposition, the portion of the lift cord which hangs from the cord lockwill be longer than the distance between the cord lock and the bottombar. The down-hanging portion of the lift cord then droops below thebottom bar when the cord is hanging freely.

The portion of the lift cord which hangs down from the cord lock variesin length, since it is pulled in and payed out to raise and lower theblind. However, with the most commonly used stringing arrangement, thebottom bar rises 1 foot for each foot that the lift cord is pulled in;and for each foot that the lift cord is pulled in, the lower end of thedown-hanging portion of the lift cord is carried up 1 foot by the bottombar. The net result is that, though the droop of the lift cord below thebottom bar increases as the bottom bar is raised, the lowermost reach ofthe lift cord below the cord lock remains constant.

Because of the droop of the freely-hanging lift cord below the bottombar, even when the bottom bar is in lower positions, the lift cordcauses no raising of the cordattached end of the bottom bar when theoperator swings the down-hanging portion of the lift cord sidewise tounlock it and permit the cord to run through the cord lock for raisingor lowering the bottom bar.

While the presently preferred embodiments of the invention have all ofthe foregoing features, among others, it is left to the user to decideupon the omission of any feature or features which are not needed forhis particular use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a largelydiagrammatic front elevation of a Venetian blind of the invention infully-extended condition, portions being broken out to conserve spaceand parts being broken away to reveal concealed elements.

FIGURE 2 is a largely diagrammatic end elevation, looking from the rightof FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, corresponding to FIGURE 1 butwith the bottom bar raised to an intermediate position.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation, looking from the right of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the right-hand portion of the bottombar that is shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, to a larger scale than FIGURES 1and 3, with the lift cord omitted.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5. Amanner of quick-attaching the lift-cord retainer to the bottom-barstructure is indicated, and the connection of the end of the lift cordto the retainer is indicated.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to FIGURE 6 butwith the lift-cord retainer indicated as being in an intermediateposition during its attachment to the bottom bar in the manner that isindicated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of the lift-cord retainer that is shown inFIGURES 1-7.

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the same lift-cord retainer, looking from theright of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a rear elevation of the same lift-cord retainer. In otherwords, FIGURE 10 is a view looking from the back of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the same lift-cord retainer.

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the same lift-cord retainer.

FIGURE 13 shows the same lift-cord retainer, viewed as in FIGURE 12 butwith the retainer turned over end for end.

FIGURE 14 is a front elevation of a modified lift-cord retainer.

FIGURE 15 is an end view of the modified lift-cord retainer, lookingfrom the right of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a rear elevation of the modified liftcord retainer. Inother words, FIGURE 16 is a view looking from the back of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the modified liftcord retainer.

FIGURE 18 is a top plan view of the modified lift-cord retainer.

FIGURE 19 shows the modified lift-cord retainer viewed as in FIGURE 18but with the retainer turned over end for end.

FIGURE 20 is an end view of a narrow bottom-bar with the modifiedlift-cord retainer applied thereto, the connection of the end of thelift cord to the retainer be ing indicated, and the end cap for thebottom bar being omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS THAT ARE PRESENTLY PREFERRED Two forms ofthe invention are shown in the drawing. Except as may be otherwiseindicated, the description under the present heading refers to one orthe other of the particular forms of the invention that are shown in thedrawing; it does not necessarily refer to any other form in which theinvention may be embodied. The claims, however, do embrace other formsin which the invention may be embodied. The best modes thus farcontemplated of carrying out the invention are herein disclosed.Neverample, since other specific modes are possible.

In FIGURES 1-4, the Venetian blind is designated as a whole by 15. Ithas a conventional head bar 16 beneath which there is suspended aconventional ladderand-slat assembly 17. At the bottom of theladder-and-slat assembly there is a bottom bar 18. The slats 20 of theladder-and-slat assembly are supported in superimposed relation andarticulated together by a pair of conventional ladders 21, 21 as is wellunderstood. The ladder-and-slat assembly 17 is considered to include theslats 20, the bottom bar 18 and the ladders 21, 21. The slats and bottombar are adapted to be tilted in conventional manner by a conventionaltilt cord 19 that operates through conventional tilting-mechanism.

The bottom bar 18 is raised and lowered in conventional manner by a liftcord 22. The lift cord is a single length of flexible cord that isturned back upon itself to provide two branches which extend generallyparallel to one another throughout much of their lengths. Referring tothe single piece of lift cord 22 taken as a whole, the two ends areattached to the bottom bar 18 adjacent to the ladders 21, 21respectively. Starting from these two ends the two branches of the liftcord extend upwardly between the front and rear vertical tapes of theladders 21, 21, into the head bar 16, horizontally to a conventionalcord lock 24 and thence downwardly through the cord lock. Beneath thecord lock 24 there is the twobranch lift-cord portion that is seenhanging down from the cord lock 24 at the right-hand side of FIGURE 1.The foregoing stringing arrangement for the lift cord is the one that isthe most usual in the art.

The end of the down-hanging portion of the lift cord, seen at theright-hand side of FIGURE 1, is of importance in connection with thepresent invention and will be referred to later.

The bottom bar 18 of the blind is raised and lowered in known manner bygrasping the down-hanging portion of the lift cord and pulling it in orpaying it out to raise or lower the bottom bar. If the bottom bar is inany suspended position, as distinguished from resting on the windowsill, the lift cord will be locked by the cord lock. When the bottom baris to be raised from such position it is only necessary to pull in thedown-hanging portion of the lift cord. However, when the bottom bar isto be lowered the operator will swing the lift cord sidewise to unlockit before paying out the lift cord. If the lowered position in which thebottom bar is placed is also a suspended position, then the operatorwill swing the lift cord sidewise in the opposite direction to lock itfor holding the bottom bar in the lowered position. The manner ofraising and lowering of the bottom bar, and the manner of unlocking andrelocking of the lift cord when needed, are standard operating procedurethat is well-known in the art.

The Venetian blind 15 is mounted by conventional installation brackets26, 26 which support the ends of the head bar 16. These brackets may beof any suitable type, e.g. the type shown in US. Patent 2,680,589.Telescoped onto the two ends of the bottom bar 18 there are conventionalend caps 27, 27; these may be of any suitable type, e.g. the type shownin US. Patent Des. 162,192. The two branches of the down-hanging portionof the lift cord 22 are held together in known manner by a cordequalizer 29. With the bottom bar fully lowered, the equalizer 29 can beplaced in any desired position along the length of the down-hangingportion of the lift cord, e.g. near the top thereof as shown in FIGURES1 and 2. The equalizer 29 may be of any suitable type, e.g. the typeshown in US. Patent 2,877,527. The cord lock 24 may be of any suitabletype, e.g. the type shown in US. Patent 2,731,111.

The Venetian blind as thus far described under the present heading(description of the embodiments, etc. is old and well-known in the art.

Reference will now be had to FIGURES 57. The bottom bar 18 has anupwardly-opening channel-shaped body made from heavy gauge sheet-steel.The body 30 is closed by a springy cover 31 made of light-gaugesheet-metal, e.g. steel or aluminum. The body 30 has a base 32 whichconstitutes the bottom of the bar 18, has upwardly extending front andrear portions 34 and 35 which constitute the front and rear of the bar,and has front and rear longitudinal flanges 36 and 37 which extendinwardly at the tops of the upwardly extending portions 34 and 35.Extending longitudinally of the body in the interior thereof, thechannel-shaped formation has upwardly-projecting double-layer ribs 38and 39 which project to a level somewhat above the longitudinal flanges36 and 37. The cover 31, which may be a length of crowned Venetian blindslat, is applied telescopically to the body 30, being placed over thetops of the ribs 38 and 39 and flexed downwardly to pass under theflanges 36 and 37 against which the edge portions of the cover 31resiliently press in an upward direction.

The bottom bar 18 of the present invention is provided with thelift-cord retainer which is shown separately in FIGURES 8-l3, beingdesignated as a whole by 40'. This retainer is made in one piece fromsuitable sheet metal, preferably stainless steel about .025" thick. Theretainer 40 includes the generally S-shaped configuration that is seenin FIGURE 9. This S-shaped configuration has a plurality of portionswhich collectively are adapted to make interfitting and holdingengagement with the structure of the bottom bar 18. Among such portionsare a portion at 41 which is adapted to overlie the front flange 36 ofthe bottom-bar body, a portion 42 which is adapted to underlie the frontflange 36, and two coplanar portions 44 and 45 which are adapted tounderlie the cover 31. The two portions 44 and 45 are at a distance fromeach other, being spaced lengthwise of the bottom bar. Extendingforwardly from location 41 in FIGURES 6 and 9 the retainer 40 has acord-retaining portion 47 which, when the retainer has been applied tothe bottom bar, extends forwardly from the top of flange 36 and thencurves downwardly and thence rearwardly toward the front wall 34 of thebottom-bar body, all as seen in FIGURE 6. This cord-retaining portion 47has'a backturned tip at 47a that closely approaches and may engage thefront wall 34 of the bottombar body. The smooth backturned tip 47aobviates marring of the finish on the front wall of the bottom bar.

Preparatory to assembling the retainer 40 with the bottom bar 18, theend 22a of the down-hanging portion of the lift cord is connected withthe cord-receiving portion 47 of the retainer 40. This is done byinserting the cord sidewise into the cord-receiving portion 47. Thenwith the relevant end cap 27 unapplied or temporarily removed, the cordretainer 40 can be quickly attached to the body 30 of the bottom bar bysliding the retainer 40 lengthwise into position with respect to thebottom-bar structure. The various portions of the retainer constitutingor associated with the S-shaped formation act collectively to makeinterfitting holding engagement with the "bottom-bar structure as isseen in full lines in FIGURE 6. It will be seen that the end 22a of thedown-hanging portion of the lift cord is attached to the bottom baradjacent to the front of the bottom bar on the outside thereof; alsothat the end 22a of the lift cord will move up and down with the bottombar as has been explained.

The lift-cord retainer 40 is of generally trapezoidal shape as viewed inplan. The small front end of the retainer renders the retainerrelatively inconspicuous when installed. The broad expanse of the hiddenportion of the retainer provides rigidity and strength. The spacebetween the two portions 44 and 45 facilitates entry of the cordend 22ainto the cord-retaining portion 47, when the cord is being connectedwith the retainer preparatory to installing the retainer.

The lift-cord retainer 40 is located wholly between the levels of thebottom and top of the untilted bottom bar. Thus the retainer cantinterfere with closing of the bottom bar against the slat immediatelyabove; also the retainer cant strike the window sill and prop up thebottom bar unless the bar is tilted far forwardly, which is rarely thecase.

When a blind has been installed without the lift-cord retainer 40, itmay in some instances be inconvenient to remove the end cap 27 forinstallation of the retainer 40-. Also there are occasional instances inwhich the cord lock 24 is at the middle of the head bar 16 and theretainer 40 has to be positioned between the ladders 21, 21. In theseinstances the retainer 40 may be quickly and facilely installed asindicated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The end 22a of the lift cord having beenconnected with the retainer 40 as already explained, the retainer isplaced in a position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 6 and presseddownwardly and rotated forwardly to the full-line position shown inFIGURE 6. On the way the retainer assumes the position shown in phantomlines in FIGURE 7, in which the retainer has flexed downwardly theforward portion of the cover 31. As the retainer is further rotatedtoward the full-line position of FIGURE 6, the cover 31 snaps upwardlytrapping the retainer portion 42 (see FIG- URE 9) above the cover withthe retainer portions 44 and 45 beneath the cover. Also, thelongitudinal flange 36 is snugly embraced by the retainer portions 42and 41 taken together. This application and interfitting of the relevantportions of the retainer 40 with the bottom-bar structure have theattributes of a barbed fish hook. While the retainer 40 can be readilyattached to the bottom-bar structure as indicated in FIGURES 6 and 7, itis very diflicult indeed to remove the retainer without sliding it outthe end of the bottom-bar body 30.

The modified lift-cord retainer of FIGURES 14-19, and the bottom barequipped therewith as shown in FIGURE 20, will now be described andexplained.

In FIGURE 20 the bottom bar 18' includes the modified lift-cord retainerwhich is shown separately in FIGURES 1419, the modified retainer beingdesignated as a whole by 40. The body 30' of the bottom bar, the end ofwhich is seen in FIGURE 20, is an elongated sheet-steel channel thatextends for substantially the width of the Venetian blindladder-and-slat assembly of which it is the bottom member. The slats ofthe assembly are narrow and the bottom-bar body or channel 30' iscorrespondingly narrow; the particular channel shown is approximatelywide and approximately high.

The bottom-bar body or channel 30" has a base 32' which constitutes thebottom of the bar 18', has upwardly extending front and rear portions34' and 35' which are curved as shown and constitute the front and rearof the bar, and has front and rear longitudinal flanges 36' and 37'which extend inwardly at the top of the bar. This gives the bottom-barchannel 30 a C-shaped form as seen endwise or in cross section, themouth of the C-shaped configuratoin being directed upwardly when thebottom bar is untilted. Cup-shaped end caps of soft plastic (not shown)are customarily telescoped onto the two ends of the bottom-bar channel30, making a friction fit therewith. The mouth of the C-shapedconfiguration may be closed by a blind-slat which merely rests on top ofthe channel 30', being held from undue displacement by the ladders andlift cords of the blind which are secured to the channel 30' in anysuitable manner, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Patent application Ser. No.732,144 filed May 27, 1968.

The two forms of lift-cord retainer that are shown in the drawing, i.e.the retainer 40 shown in FIGURES 8- 13 and the modified retainer 40-shown in FIGURES 14- 19, have corresponding parts which are designatedby corresponding reference characters, each reference character beingprovided with a prime mark when applied to the modified retainer 40'.The modified retainer 40' 7 is the same as the retainer 40 except thatthe coplanar retainer-portions 44 and 45' incline downwardly-rearwardlyfrom the portion 42 as shown in FIGURES and instead of extending as inFIGURES 9 and 11 where the coplanar portions 44 and 45 extend rearwardlysubstantially parallel to the portion 42.

The lift cord 22' having been attached to the modified retainer 40' inthe same manner that the lift cord 22 was attached to retainer 40, themodified retainer 40' is applied to the bottom-bar channel by sliding itin from the end of the channel. This is done either before an end cap isapplied to the channel 30 or while the end cap has been temporarilyremoved.

As is seen in FIGURE 20 the modified retainer 40 has a plurality ofportions which collectively make interfitting holding engagement withthe bottom-bar structure and prevent significant rocking of the retainer40 with respect to the bottom-bar structure. The portions of themodified retainer which collectively make the interfitting holdingengagement with the bottom-bar structure are the rearwardly anddownwardly-extending portions 44' and 45 that closely confront and mayengage the base 32 of the bottom bar, the portions 41 and 42' whichrespectively overlie and underlie the front longitudinal flange 36', andthe backturned tip 47a of the cord-receiving portion 47', whichbackturned tip closely confronts and may engage the front 34' of thebottom-bar channel 30'.

In FIGURE 20 the lift cord 22' is attached to the front of thebottom-bar channel the same as the lift cord 22 in FIGURES 14 and 6.With the bottom bar 18 fully lowered the lift cord 22' droops below thebottom bar as shown in FIGURE 20, the same as the lift cord 22 droopsbelow the fully lowered bottom bar in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6. As the bottombar 18' is raised the bottom end 22a of the down-hanging portion of thelift cord 22' is carried upwardly. In short a blind equipped with themodified lift-cord retainer 40' as shown in FIGURE 20 functions just thesame in limiting lift-cord dangle as does the blind of FIGURES 14.

The two branches of the down-hanging portion of the lift cord are heldtogether by a suitable cord equalizer 29', which corresponds to theequalizer 29 in FIGURES l-4. Where the lift cord 22' is of smalldiameter as compared to the open area of the cord-receiving loop 47 itmay be advantageous to place the equalizer 29 close to the loop 47 isshown in FIGURE 20, to inhibit sliding movement of the cord through theloop 47'.

I claim:

What is claimed is:

1. A Venetian blind in which the lift cord passes I through a. cord lockat the top of the blind and has a portion that hangs down from the cordlock, the bottom bar of the blind being raised and lowered by manuallypulling in and paying out such down-hanging portion of theliftcord-wherein the improvement comprises:

the bottom bar being provided with a retainer for the end of saiddown-hanging portion of the lift cord, said retainer having a pluralityof portions which collectively make interfitting holding engagement withthe bottom-bar structure, said retainer having a cord-receiving portionadjacent to the front of the bottom bar on the outside of the bottombar,

the cord-receiving portion of the retainer being a portion which extendsforwardly from a level adjacent to the top of the bottom bar and thenextends downwardly and thence rearwardly toward the front of the bottombar, the end of said down-hanging portion of the lift cord beingconnected to said cord-receiving portion of the retainer, and saiddown-hanging portion of the lift cord having a variable length which, atall levels of the bottom bar, is greater than the distance between thecord lock and the bottom bar whereby the lift cord droops below thebottom bar when the cord hangs freely from the cord lock.

2. A Venetian blind bottom-bar having an upwardly opening channel-shapedbody and a springy sheet-metal cover for the body, said body having abase which constitutes the bottom of the bar, having upwardly extendingfront and rear portions which constitute the front and rear of the bar,and having front and rear longitudinal flanges extending inwardly at thetops of said upwardly extending portions, and the springy coverprojecting beneath said inwardly extending longitudinal flangeswhereinthe improvement comprises:

the bottom bar being provided with a cord retainer having a plurality ofportions which collectively make interfitting holding engagement withthe bottom-bar structure,

said portions which make the holding engagement including a portionwhich overlies said front flange and a portion which extends betweensaid front flange and said cover, and said retainer having acord-receiving portion adjacent to the front of the bottom bar on theoutside of the bottom bar.

3. A Venetian blind bottom-bar as in claim 2 wherein the improvementalso comprises: the cord-retainer portions which collectively makeinterfitting and holding engagement with the bottom-bar structure havingamong them a portion which extends beneath said cover.

4. A Venetian blind bottom-bar as in claim 2 in which the improvementfurther comprises: said cord retainer being a single piece of sheetmetal, and the cord-receiving portion of the retainer being a portionwhich extends forwardly from said front flange of the bottom-bar bodyand then curves downwardly and thence rearwardly toward the front of thebottom-bar body.

5. A Venetian blind bottom bar as in claim 2 wherein the improvementalso comprises: the cord-retainer portions which collectively makeinterfitting and holding engagement with the bottom-bar structure havingamong them a pair of portions, spaced longitudinally of the bottom bar,which extend beneath said cover.

6. A Venetian blind bottom-bar having a channelshaped body, said bodyhaving a base which constitutes the bottom of the bar, havingupwardly-extending front and rear portions which constitute the frontand rear of the bar, and having a front longitudinal flange extendinginwardly at the top of the barwherein the improvement comprises:

the bottom bar being provided with a cord retainer having a plurality ofportions which collectively make interfitting holding engagement withthe bottom-bar structure,

said portions which make the holding engagement including a portionwhich overlies said front longitudinal flange and a portion whichextends beneath said front longitudinal flange, and said retainer havinga cord-receiving portion adjacent to the front of the bottom bar on theoutside of the bottom bar.

7. A Venetian blind bottom-bar as in claim 6 wherein the improvementalso comprises: the cord-retainer portions which collectively makeinterfitting and holding engagement with the bottom-bar structure havingamong them a portion which extends into closely-confronting relation tothe base of the bottom bar.

8. A Venetian blind bottom-bar as in claim 6 in which the improvementfurther comprises: said cord retainer being a single piece of sheetmetal, and the cord-receiving portion of the retainer being a portionwhich extends forwardly from said front flange of the bottom-bar bodyand then extends downwardly and thence rearwardly toward the front ofthe bottom-bar body.

9. A Venetian blind bottom-bar as in claim 6 wherein the improvementalso comprises: the cord-retainer por- 9 10 tions which collectivelymake interfitting and holding en- 2,633,909 4/1953 Foglio 160-178gagement with the bottom-bar structure having among 2,637,382 5/1953Nelson 160-178 them a pair of portions, spaced longitudinally of thebottom bar, which extend into closely-confronting relation FOREIGNPATENTS to the base of the bottom bar. 5 1,258,091 2/1961 France.

501,692 11/1954 Italy.

References Cited DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS I PHILIP C. KANNAN, Ass1stant Examiner 2,181,897 12/1939 Kapp160-172 10 2,576,160 11/1951 Walker 160-178 2,600,062 6/1952 Lorentzen160-178 173

